Liza Smile! Smile! Smile!/ music by Arthur Gillespie; words by James M. Reilly

Lyrics:First verseLittle yaller boy, like a colored toy, Hangin' ‘round his lady love's abode, Deep in love am he, Blue as he can be, Cause his heart it am a heavy load; At de close of day, other coons gone ‘way, Den he lingers near her home again, An' if de moon am bright, or dark becomes de night, His sweet voice ever sings dis queer refrain.Refrain‘Liza! ‘Liza! ‘Liza! for you I'm serenadin', ‘Liza! Oh! ‘Liza, my heart's a-waitin', honey, an' a-palpitatin' For you just you, so do not be a-hesitatin', But on dis coon smile, smile, smile! ‘Liza! ‘Liza! ‘Liza! for you I'm serenadin', ‘Liza! Oh! ‘Liza, my heart's a-waitin', honey, an' a-palpitatin' For you just you, so do not be a-hesitatin', But on dis coon smile, smile, smile!Second verseBut de folkses said: Liza's to be wed, Handsome man ‘bout her is ‘most insane, Neighbors say: ‘tis so, Dey have seen ‘em go, Arm in arm a-strollin' down de lane; Little yaller boy, gone am all his joy, Sad his heart but he does not despair, For his voice am heard, just like a lonesome bird, A-singin’ always dis peculiar air.
(Refrain)

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

The derogatory terms, images, and ideas that appear in some of this sheet music are not condoned by the University of Mississippi. They do represent the attitudes of a number of Americans at the times the songs were published. As such, it is hoped that the sheet music in this collection can aid students of music, history, and other disciplines to better understand popular American music and racial stereotypes from the 19th- and early 20th-centuries. Read the introduction for further information to use when contextualizing this item: http://130.74.92.141/cdm4/intro_harris.php